“So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.” ~ Acts 3:8
REFERENCE:
In the spirit of thanksgiving, we journey to the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem to see the man born lame in his feet. His life was predictable: carried daily by friends, dropped at the gate, begged for money, some people passed by, while others gave him money, no one spoke with him or gave him attention; all he did was to stay outside the gate, and never entered the temple.
God stepped in through Peter and broke the predictableness in his life. Everything changed! Peter gave him attention, spoke to him, prayed for him, and lifted him up. Strength suddenly came into his feet and legs, and he stood for the first time; the old pattern ended. No more being carried to beg, looked down on, or ignored. He entered the temple for the first time. In response to this unusual experience in his life, he did something unusual. He broke into a church service and, I imagine, was walking (while others sat), leaping (while they knelt to pray), and praising God (during the sermon). His transformation was evident, but his gratitude even more so. It didn’t matter what the program was in church that day; he broke protocols.
It is obvious God has blessed you and transformed your life; you are saved, healed, married, running a business, doing better than last year, etc. However, your gratitude is a secret. This ex-lame man broke all protocols to express gratitude; it did not look dignified, but he did not care who saw or heard him. He went all out to express his thanks to God. It was loud and hearty.
God broke protocols to do all He did in your life this year; it was not normal. Your new business is doing better than older businesses, you got married before your older siblings, and found favor where others failed. You married last year and now have a child, traveled and returned safely, and got a new contract, client, or appointment. You slept and woke up, marital issues resolved, moved into your house, got out of debt, etc. It is because God broke protocols for you.
Give God a “no-holds-barred thanksgiving” this season. Let the memory of what God did for you make you break protocols in thanking Him. It is improper to know that God broke protocols for you yet, be too dignified in expressing gratitude. If you are too prim and proper, your thanksgiving will be weak and offensive to God. Like this man, do something extraordinary to thank God – a shout, run, joyful dance, sing aloud, etc. Customize your thanksgiving; be creative in finding ‘new’ ways to ‘render praises’ to God. Breaking Protocols thanksgiving is a call to come out of your comfort zone and thank God.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Psalm 92:5-6 & II Samuel 6:16-21
PRAYERS:
+ May I not make light of all God has done in my life. Father, I acknowledge that You broke protocols for me when You did what You did for me.
+ I commit to letting my body, heart, and mind participate in my expressions of gratitude.
+ Show me ways to express thanks to You as I reflect on Your goodness this year.
As I look around me, Lord, I realize that there’s nothing You did for me that was casual, usual, or ordinary. I don’t deserve the least of Your mercies, but You broke protocols for me. Let all that is within and around me cooperate in thanking You. Amen!
Father, I refuse to be prim and proper in thanksgiving. I commit to letting my body, heart and mind participate in my expressions of gratitude!
Bless the Lord oh my soul, and ALL that is within me, bless His Holy Name
There is no protocol to be observed in giving God thanks, except for the protocol of honor and showing gratitude with my praise ALWAYS!
My eyes have seen, my ears have heard, and my mouth will talk about the goodness of God in my life in Jesus name amen 🙏
God has been faithful to me. He renewed me; body and soul everyday. Glory be to God